Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-11-11


city chiefly came from the Democracy. and
IN the county is said to have been about
equally divided between the two parties.
The night before the election was made
quite lively by Democratic and Republi-
can party demonstrations.
The Democratic Denomination.
The Democrats had secured the promise
of the presence of Gov. Wilson of West
Virginia, and q. S. Senator Kenna. of
that State, to speak here on Monday night,
but tt last named, who was in New
York, found it Impossible to get here.
About noon Monday, telegram was re-
ceived from Gen. Echols. who was on the
G. & o. train coming home to vote, say
ing that Col. W. G. p. Breckenridge, the
famous Kentucky orator, was on the
train on his way to Washington. 1t was
at once determined to secure him, in addi-
ton to Gov. Wilson. Judge H. W. Shelf
fey, II. w. Burke of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, Ron. Marshall
Hanger and a number of other prominent
Democrats, went to the train. when it
arrived at 1927 P. M. Judge Shelley, who
acted as leader of the raid, put bis best
arguments at the Colonel, but it almost
appeared hopeless until the great crowd
Of Democrats who had gathered at the de-
pot commenced cheering and calling out
for breckenridge" At the last moment
the orator yielded, and the train which
was just about to move. was hello until his
baggage could be taken off. He was On
his way to Washington to fill an appoint
ment with President Cleveland On Tues
day, and when be announced his determi-
nation to stop here the people showed
uproarious delight. Gov. Wilson and
himself repaired. with the crowd as an es-
cort, to the Virginia Hotel, where they
were quartered.
AT THE ARMORY.
About 1880 the streets from the Virgin
ia Hotel to the ArmorY were ablaZe with
rockets, and red and green fires, and the
air was filled with the cheers of the Dem
ocrats and the music of the Stonewall
Band which headed the possession that
accompanied the orators of the night from
the hotel to the Armory. There was a
fine audience there before the speakers
arrived, but with them poured into the
hall such a crowd that the number of per-
sons was larger than ever gathered there
before, except when John S.Wise address,
ed the Republicans there in 1885. There
were some fifty ladies present, the Demo-
Gratis having issued handbills about dark
~ mi Nba
was in fine spirits,and one noticeable thing
was the presence of large number of
white Republicans.
On the stand were Judge Sheffey, Gen.
Echols and the speakers of the evening.
Judge SheffeY introduced Gov. Wilson,
who made a speech about an hour in
length full of information and the facts
and figures TO back it. He was frequent
ly interrupted with applause and at the
conclusion was heartily cheered.
Col. Breckenridge was then introduced
by Judge Shelley. The Democrats had
announced him by handbills during the
day as the great Kentucky orator." and
it was not five minutes before the audience
knew it was so. Neither old nor young
have ever heard the equal of that speech
in Stanton by any orator whatever
neither in the stirring eloquence, the
purity Of the English, the wonderful art
of grouping facts, the equally wonderful
faculty Of condensation, the minor graces
of elocGtion such as graceful gesture and
fitting infection-in short. in nothing that
goes to make up a really great speaker.
From the beginning he had the audience,
and no three minutes elapsed that the
people were not cheering-not merely
applaudipg, but cheering. His beautiful
allusion to the Irish and that cardinal
principle OF the DemocFacy-Home Rule;
his grand setting forth of Democracy as
the friend of Labor; his tribute to Virgil
MIA, and many ether magnificent points
were greeted with recurring tempests of
applause. Men waved their hats ard
aomen their handkeic chiefs wildly. When
he came to close, the audience was mutt
nous 10 the last degree and with storm
OF s. ons,' tried to force lin to keep the
stand. But lie gracefully and humorously
excused bimseH further, and with few
beautiful illusions to Virginia and the
reason he bad consented to stop In the old
State. he concluded. Such cheering rs
that with which che people attempted to
repay him had never been heard there be-
fore. Of course it was no use to have had
more speaking after that-no man could
have had the courage to attempt it-and
dhe meeting adjourned. Col. Breckenridge
was kept busy struggling to get away from
the crowd that thfor ged around him,
thanking and cougratulating him.
The Republican Demonstration
Somehow The "s.ap''-if they had had
any, seemed to be cut Of the Republi
cans, Monday night, and their meeting On
the Courthouse lawn was a dull affair
Very few of the white Republicans at
tended it, most Of them being up at the
Armory listening to the Kentucky orator,
and after parading tie streets with the
coIored band for an h0lr Or SO only about
one hundred end fifty eolored people,
about fourth OF whom seemed to be wo-
snen, could be gathered 10 the little paved
space in front of the portico. Speeches
were made Icy Mr.. Heber Ker, Hon. Jacob
Yost. Maj. E. Mcmahon, Mr.. Charles
Curry and Ex~C0llector Craig. The scene
was lighted by q lantern on table and a
lamp up tree, and vas dismal in the ex-
IRENE. The dreary effect OF the small au-
dience and its environment was being adj
ded to when our reporter .strolled by. by
the first speaker, who had commenced re-
lating the ante-i eluvlan story of the State